Abir and Kuhu exchanged glances at Ketki's question. Since Abir was in no state to narrate the incident that piqued him, Kuhu started. 

*Flashback* 

Kuhu and Abir entered college. 

Kuhu : Abir tu jam room jaa. Mei canteen se kuch khane ke liye leke aati hu. I'm very hungry. 

She said pointing towards her tummy. Abir grinned at her.

Abir : Chal aaj treat meri taraf se. After all maine aaj tujhe bahut jaldi utha diya tha. So, as compensation, your breakfast is on me.

They both went to the canteen. After Kuhu grabbed a sandwich, they were heading towards the jam room when Kuhu who was busy devouring her sandwich suddenly realised that Abir wasn't walking besides her. She stopped and turned to look behind. She saw Abir staring at something and followed his gaze. She saw that Abir was looking at Mishti who was seated at a table and laughing heartily with a guy. Mishti slapped his shoulder from across the table as a response to some joke he made. Kuhu walked back to the place where Abir was standing. They couldn't see the guy's face because his back was towards them. Abir was about to call Mishti when she got up from her seat followed by the mystery guy. She embraced him in a hug in a way Abir didn't like. Abir clenched his fists. Kuhu held Abir's arm when she noticed that he could lose his cool any moment now. His eyes were burning with rage.

Kuhu : Abir, dekh shaant rehna. Don't make a scene here. Bahut log hai yaha. 

Abir's eyes were fixated on Mishti and the unfamiliar guy. She wasn't sure if Abir heard her. When Kuhu turned her gaze back towards Mishti, she saw Mishti kissing the guy's cheek. Her eyes widened and she immediately focused her attention back on Abir. He seethed in anger and scurried away towards the jam room. Kuhu went behind him too.

*Flashback ends*

As Kuhu completed, everyone stared at her incredulously. Nishant was the first one to speak.

Nishant : Mishti did what? Are you guys sure tumlogo ne Mishti ko hi dekha tha? I mean..

Before Nishant could complete, Abir glowered at him and yelled.

Abir : Tujhe kya lagta hai Nishant, hum pagal hai? We can't see or what? Hum yaha mazaak kar rahe hai?

Kuhu : Calm down Abir. Nishant pe chillakar kya milega? 

Abir : Tu isse bol naa. Yeh kya bakwaas questions puch raha hai. 

Abir turned his face to the other side and started taking deep breaths to control his temper. 

Nishant : Arey Abir woh..

Nishant's statement was cut short when they heard the door of the jam room squeak. Everyone shifted their gaze towards the door. Mishti entered the room. 

Mishti : Hi guys! 

Everyone gaped at her in silence. Mishti felt weird when none of them replied to her greeting. 

Mishti : Kya hua guys? Tumlog sab mujhe aise kyu dekh rahe ho? 

They all came out of their trance. 

Ketki : Arey kuch nahi. Aao na. 

While Mishti walked in, Kuhu whispered to Abir.

Kuhu : Abir, handle this calmly. Please don't lose your cool. 

Abir's eyes were focused on Mishti all this while. Unconsciously, he just nodded his head without looking at Kuhu and started advancing towards Mishti. Mishti was just about to say something to Ketki when Abir questioned her nonchalantly.

Abir : Kaha thi tum? 

His tone was extremely calm. Like the one before a storm. His entire demeanour manifested that all he wanted to hear was the truth. Anything apart from the truth would make him lose his temper. Everyone anticipated it except Mishti. They were all afraid to witness what could take place if Mishti wouldn't be able to read between the lines and spoke anything but the truth. Mishti obviously was oblivious to the things that took place before she arrived. She was her usual chirpy self - smiling and happy. 

Mishti : Mei? I was at home and then I came to college. You toh know naa? Subah tak tum mere ghar par hi toh the. Then you left me a note saying you had some important work. Bas, I got ready, had my breakfast and took my medicines, as you had instructed and then I came here. 

Mishti went on about her routine. This was not what Abir was asking about. His patience was wearing off. He tried to maintain his composure.

Abir : So, you came to the jam room directly? 

Mishti : Haan Abir. Aur kaha jaaungi? 

Abir : Are you sure Mishti?

Mishti : Of course I'm sure Abir. Kya hogaya hai tumhe? Why are you being such a detective? 

Abir : So what were you doing in the canteen with that guy? 

Mishti looked at him in confusion. Suddenly her expressions changed as she realized what Abir was talking about. 

Mishti : Ohh that. That was Anant. He was in my class. That's how I know him. You know, he had gone for a cultural exchange program for 6 months. That's so fascinating, isn't it? He returned yesterday night. So we were just catching up. 

Mishti was all praises for Anant. That was the last straw for Abir. He looked like he could skin Mishti alive. Everyone knew what was about to happen. He hollered. 

Abir : CATCHING UP? So how was your catching up with him? Good? If he's so fascinating, what are you doing here? I'm sure hugging and kissing him after so long must have felt surreal. (He gestured towards the door) So you should go and be with him.

Mishti stared at him, agape. Abir turned his face away from her to hide his pain. The others exchanged worried glances.  

Mishti : What the hell are you saying Abir? How could you even think that way? 

Abir turned towards her. 

Abir : What am I saying? I saw you Mishti. In the canteen. Laughing with him. Hugging him. Kissing his cheek. (He shut his eyes to blink back the angry tears that threatened to fall) What do I make of it Mishti? Huh?

His voice was merely a whisper by the end. All the flashes of the incident played in front of his eyes once again. He couldn't erase the picture of Mishti kissing Anant from his memory. However, now it was Mishti's turn to be angry. 

Mishti : He's just a friend Abir. Nothing else. You know what? Forget it. You've already made your assumptions about me and Anant, right? So, think whatever you wish to. I'm not going to give you an explanation for anything. I'm tired of explaining myself to you Abir. Why is it that I have to prove my loyalty to you, always? I don't doubt you when you hug Kuhu or Ketki. Or when you kiss them on their cheeks or their foreheads. I never question you about it. 

Kuhu : Mishti, mei aur Ketki kaha se beech mei aagaye? You know we are his friends. 

Abir stared at her, astounded. He couldn't believe that she thought about his friendship with Kuhu and Ketki in that manner. Mishti turned towards Kuhu.

Mishti : Haa toh? Can't I have other guy friends? (Turning back towards Abir) You don't own me Abir. I'm allowed to have other guys as my friends. Aur mei tumhare haathon ki katputli nahi hu ki jo tum kahoge, jaisa tum kahoge mei vaisa hi karungi. I have a life too. I have friends apart from you guys too. Har baar kisi se milne yaa baat karne se pehle mujhe tumhari permission lena zaruri nahi hai Abir. 

Everyone was astonished to hear Mishti talk to Abir like this. With every word Mishti uttered, Abir's heart was breaking piece by piece. 

Ketki : Stop it Mishti. What's wrong with you? You were never like this!

Nishant : Mishti, how can you talk to him like this?

Mishti looked at them.

Mishti: I'm talking to Abir so you guys don't need to interfere. 

Atul : Mishti..

Mishti : Maine kaha na Atul, I'm talking to Abir. Stop interfering between us. 

They started at her in perplexity. She shifted her gaze back to Abir. 

Mishti : You know what, I don't even want to have this conversation with you Abir. I'm out of here. 

Saying this, she dashed out of the jam room. Once she was out, she brought her hand to her mouth and rushed to the washroom. 

Inside the jam room

Nishant, Ketki and Atul were stunned. Abir stood rooted to his position, motionless. Each of Mishti's words kept repeating in his ears. Kuhu, who was observing Mishti all this while, had seen Mishti's expressions change before she dashed out of the room. She figured that something was amiss. Without thinking further, she went behind her. Everyone stared at Kuhu's disappearing figure in disbelief except Abir. He was too lost to even react. He was still staring at the place where Mishti was standing a few moments ago. Nishant was the first one to break the woeful silence.

Nishant : Yeh Mishti ko ho kya gaya hai? Aaj itni rude kaise hogayi? Mishti ne toh aaj tak kabhi aise behave nahi kia hai. Abir…

Before Nishant could ask anything to Abir, he left from there. 

In the corridor 

Kuhu couldn't find Mishti. She was sure that Mishti had come in this direction but where had she disappeared? Kuhu saw a girl coming towards her. 

Kuhu : Hey, listen. Tumne yaha se kisi ladki ko jaate hue dekha hai? Usne.. usne blue color ka top pehna hoga. 

Girl : Haan. Maine unhe washroom mei jaate hue dekha tha. 

Kuhu : Okay. Thank you.

Kuhu rushed towards the washroom. Once inside the washroom, she heard someone puking. Although she wanted to help Mishti, she thought that her best bet would be to wait outside if she wanted to know why Mishti behaved that way.  

Mishti was kneeling in front of the commode and puking her guts out. She left the jam room in such a hurry because she knew she had to throw up. “The drawbacks of having a brain tumor”, she had thought. Once she was done, she sat down on the floor and wiped her mouth with a napkin. She drank some water from the bottle in her bag. Once done, she broke down. She weeped uncontrollably. 

Mishti : I.. I am sorry Abir. I'm so so sorry. I.. I didn't want to do this to you. I didn't want to be so rude and hurt you Abir. But I had to do this. 

Mishti continued to speak in between her sobs unaware of Kuhu's presence. 

Mishti : I had seen you in the canteen. That is why I hugged and kissed Anant. So that you question me and I act like I don't understand your questions. I knew this way you would lose your temper and I can turn it into a fight. I had to do this because mujhe tumhe aapne aap se dur karna hi hoga Abir. It's difficult for me but I have to do this for you. Abir aaj maine jo kuch bhi kiya that is nothing in front of what I'm going to do tomorrow. Kal tumhe kuch aisa face karna hai jo shayad tumne apne sapne mei bhi nahi socha hoga. Kal tumhara birthday hai and instead of a gift, I'm going to give you something that will shatter you Abir.  Par mere paas aur koi option nahi hai. I have to do all this so that you start hating me. After whatever I do tomorrow I'm sure you will never even want to see my face again. I'm sorry Abir. Please ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena. 

Mishti wiped off her tears. She got up from the floor. Kuhu was shocked to hear Mishti's confession. She heard the lock click. Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, she quickly went inside the adjacent washroom and heaved a sigh of relief. Mishti sprinkled some water on her face, washed her hands and left from there. Kuhu came out of the washroom. 

Kuhu : Mishti yeh kya keh rahi thi? Woh kal kya karne wali? 

After a few minutes of pondering over these questions, she left from there in search of Abir. First, she went to the jam room where Nishant told her that Abir had left soon after Mishti and her. Without waiting for them to question her, she took off from there to look for Abir. She went through the corridors, the garden, even the parking lot. But Abir was nowhere to be found. His car was in the parking lot. This meant that he was still in college. But where was he? Suddenly Kuhu thought of a place and rushed there. As soon as she reached the terrace, she found Abir standing near the edge with his hands in his pockets. She ran towards him.

Kuhu : Abir..

Abir didn't turn around. 

Abir : Kuhu, please just leave me alone. Mujhe abhi koi baat nahi karni hai. 

Kuhu : Abir, I think I know why Mishti talked to you like that. 

Listening to this, Abir immediately turned to face her. 

Hey guys! So here's the next update. What do you'll think of this one? What is Kuhu going to tell Abir? Do let me know in the comment section❤️ Also, do leave your votes if your guys are enjoying my story!
- Sakshi❤️